Automatic ice dispenser

ABSTRACT

An ice dispenser for automatically dispensing crushed ice fed from an ice bin to a delivery opening of the ice bin in response to actuation of a push-plate beneath the opening is described. Crushed ice is lifted from the ice bin by means of an iceelevating mechanism in the form of an auger having an ice feeder disc at its lower end and a stationary auger tube within which the auger turns for elevating the ice. The auger and its feeder disc are driven at the bottom through a drive pin mechanism journalled in the bottom of the ice bin and releasably connectable with the drive pin mechanism to permit removal and disassembly of the ice-elevating mechanism for cleaning.

Shelley et al.

Feb. 6, 1973 AUTOMATIC ICE DISPENSER inventors: George R. Shelley;Robert J. Shelley, Jr.; Arthur B. Dixon; Bruce House, all of 4225 N. w.72nd Avenue, Miami, Fla. 33166 Filed: May 4, 1970 Appl. No.: 34,280

Related US. Application Data Continuation-impart of Scr. No. 862,587,Aug. 25, 1969, Pat. No. 3,608,786.

US. Cl. ..222/241, 222/413, 222/231 Int. Cl ..G0lf 11/20 Field of Search"222/241, 240, 231, 232, 238, 222/146 C, 56, 413, 252, 412, 239; 198/213References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hoenisch 2.; "222/56 and PrimaryExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-lames M. Sla'tteryAttorney-Emest H. Schmidt [57] ABSTRACT An ice dispenser forautomatically dispensing crushed ice fed from an ice bin to a deliveryopening of the ice bin in response to actuation of a push-plate beneaththe opening is described. Crushed ice is lifted from the ice bin bymeans of an ice-elevating mechanism in the form of an auger having anice feeder disc at its lower end and a stationary auger tube withinwhich the auger turns for elevating the ice. The auger and its feederdisc are driven at the bottom through a drive pin mechanism journalledin the bottom of the ice bin releasably connectable with the drive pinmechanism to permit removal and disassembly of the ice-elevatingmechanism for cleaning.

9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATEMTEDFEB 6 19 sum 10F 5 MH E/UTORS.650965 A? SHELLEY ROBERT 1/1 SHELL E uA. @RTHUR 5. DIXON BRUCE HOUSEA'TToR/uEx PAIENTED FEB 6 ms SHEET 3 OF 5 /A/VE/UTOF?S. GEORGE F.SHELLEY KOBEPT: (J SHELLEX UR, rQ/QTHUX? 13 0/ XO/U BEL/CE HOUSEPATENTEDFEB' 619% 3,715,119 SHEET 50F 5 m1 YEN TOPS.

EEOEGE 1?, SHELLEY ROBERT a. SHELLEY/ uR. ART/4w? B. u/xo/v BRUCE HOUSEAUTOMATIC ICE DISPENSER This is a continuation-in-part of applicantsapplication Ser. No. 862,587, filed Aug. 25, 1969, and now patent no.3,608,786, titled ICE DISPENSER, and is directed to a modified form ofice dispenser therein disclosed.

The present invention has for a principal object the provision of anautomatic ice dispenser which will be particularly well suited todispensing crushed ice of the type that is continuously manufactured,upon demand, by ice-making equipment wherein ice similar to crushed iceis delivered through a flexible conduit. As such, and in combinationwith an automatic-feed crushed ice machine, the ice bin of the icedispenser comprising the present invention will be kept sufficientlyfull at all times to deliver normal requirements of dispensed ice. It isto be noted, however, that the ice dispenser ice bin can also readily berefilled manually, if required or desired.

It is an important object of the invention to provide an improvedautomatic ice dispenser of the above nature which will be comparativelysimple in structure and operation, and wherein the parts and the surfaceareas coming into contact with the contained ice during use of thedevice are, for the most part, removable and smooth-surfaced for easycleaning, sanitizing and sterilization where necessary. This is ofspecial importance in hospitals and the like institutions where specialcare must be taken to eliminate all possible sources of bacteriologicalinfection.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an ice dispenser ofthe character described which will be fully automatic in dispensingpredetermined portions of ice into a glass, pitcher or the likecontainer without the necessity of touching the ice or machine by hand,thereby keeping the ice in as pure a condition as when supplied to theice bin.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic,portion-controllable ice dispenser of the character described whichcomprises an insulated ice bin, ice-elevating mechanism in theform of anauger having a bottom ice-feeder disc, and an auger tube within whichthe auger turns for elevating the ice to a dispensing spout, andincluding electric drive mechanism extending through the bottom of theice bin and being removably connectable to the unitary auger andice-feeder disc for easy disassembly of the elevating mechanism.

Still another object is to provide an ice dispensing device which willbe simple in construction, compact, readily portable and attractive inappearance, economical in cost, and dependable, efficient and durable inoperation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description when read with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsdenote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 illustrates, in oblique view as seen from the front, an icedispenser embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the ice dispenser, with a portionof the back panel broken away to illustrate interior constructionaldetails;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 5--5 ofFIG. 4 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 ofFIG. 4 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 7--7 ofFIG. 4 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the auger lift assemblyillustrating the mechanism by means of which the lift tube is removablysecured to the ice bin housing;

FIG. 9 isa vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 9--9 ofFIG. 7 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the mechanism bymeans of which the cover assembly for the upstanding dispensingmechanism support structure is removably secured in place;

FIG. 10 illustrates, in oblique view as seen from the rear, themanually-controlled dispensing switch lever mechanism, shown separately;and

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the ice dispenser illustrating how theauger lift assembly, cover members and overflow drain pan are removablefor cleaning.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, numeral 10 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 11designates an improved ice dispenser embodying the invention, the samebeing comprised, generally, of a substantially rectangular ice binhousing 11 having an upstanding dispensing mechanism support structure12, an auger lift assembly 13 and an electrice drive motor 14 supportedin said ice bin housing near the lower end thereof and adapted torotatively drive said auger lift assembly for elevating and dispensingice in an interior ice chamber as is hereinbelow more particularlydescribed.

The ice binhousing 11 is substantially rectangular in shape, having abottom framework comprising opposed side angle-iron framework membersl5, 16 (see FIGS. 3 and 5) interjoined, as by welding, with the frontangle-iron framework member 17 and a back angleiron framework member 18.As best illustrated inFlG. 3, the four corners of the bottom frameworkhave welded or otherwise affixed thereto horizontallydisposed,triangular gusset plates 19 carrying downwardly-extending,screw-threaded, adjustable legs 20. Each of the leg supporting gussetplates 19 has secured along its outside edges a downwardly-extending legshield 21 serving to hide the screw mechanism by means of which the legs20 are adjustable (see FIG. 4). As illustrated in FIG. 3, a bottom coverplate 22, the corners of which are cut away adjacent the corner legs, issecured against the underside of the bottom framework structure.

The ice bin bottom framework comprising angle-iron members 15, 16, 17and 18 has secured to the corners thereof, as by welding, frontupstanding angle-iron members 23, 23 and rear upstanding angle-ironmembers 24, 24, the upper ends of which are similarly joined with anupper rectangular angle-iron structure 25 (partially illustrated in FIG.4).. The ice bin housing framework structure is covered in front by afixed cover plate 26 and at the sides by fixed side cover plates 27 and28. A removable rear cover plate 29 is detachably secured in place as ishereinafter described. The front cover plate 26 and side cover plates 27and 28 are secured in assembled relation by an integral corner trimassemblage 30 having downwardly-extending rectangular corner covermembers 31, 32, 33 and 34 adapted to overlie vertical marginal portionsof said front and side cover plates to retain them in place. The lowerends of said corner cover members when fitted in place extend somewhatdownwardly below the underside of the above-described ice bin housingframework, whereat they are bent inwardly to secure the assemblagetogether. The corner trim assemblage 30 at its upper end comprises a topcover plate portion 35 having a circular ice chamber opening 36.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the upstanding rear angle-iron members24, 24 have welded thereto near their upper ends opposed,inwardly-extending lugs 37, 38 drilled and tapped to receive attachmentscrews 39, 39 for removably securing the rear cover plate 29 in place.Additional screws 39 similarly secure the lower end of the rear coverpanel 29 in place.

As best illustrated in FIG. 5, as means for supporting the auger liftassembly 13 and its associated ice chamber as hereinafter moreparticularly described, a pair of angle-iron support members 40, 41extend diagonally from the zone ofjuncture of the side angleironframework member 16 and rear angle-iron framework member 18 to the zoneof juncture of the front angle-iron framework member 17 and the sideangle-iron framework member 15, said angle-iron support members beingconvergently arranged from back to front. Seated upon the angle-ironsupport members 40, 41 within the ice bin housing 11 is a cylindricalice chamber 42 having a cylindrical sheet metal outer wall 43 and aconcentrically-spaced cylindrical inner wall 44. The lower end of thecylindrical inner wall 44 extends somewhat short of the lower end of thecylindrical outer wall 43 and is formed thereat with an inwardly-offsetperipheral lower end portion 45 (see FIG. 4). A shallow, cylindricalbottom cup member 46, the upper end of which is circumjacent the outsideof the inwardly-offset lower end portion 45 of the inner wall 44 and iswelded or otherwise secured thereto, provides the bottom interior wallof the cylindrical ice chamber 42'. The bottom cup member 46 isfabricated with a substantially cylindrical, central bearing chamber 47journalling a through axial pin 48 the lower end of which carries adrive sprocket'49. The upper or inner end of the axial pin 48 carries acircular bearing plate 50 havinga centrally located indexing pin 51 anddiametrically opposed index lugs 52, 53.

Means including the electric drive motor 14 is provided for driving theauger lift assembly 13 through the bearing plate 50, as is hereinaftermore particularly described. To this end, as illustrated in FIG. 2, anintermediate upstanding angle-iron member 54 is provided between theupstanding rear angle-iron members 24, 24, for the securement of themotor 14 between said intermediate upstanding member and the adjacentcorner of the ice bin housing framework as by bolts 55, 55. The driveshaft of the motor 14 extends downwardly, as best illustrated in FIG. 4,and carries a sprocket gear 56 mechanically interconnected with thesprocket 49 by a sprocket chain 57.

The annular space between the outer and inner walls 43, 44 of thecylindrical ice chamber 42 is filled with insulation 58; and the upperend of said inner wall is reversely bent to provide a smooth upper endor rim portion 59 extending through the circular opening 36 in the upperor top cover plate portion 35.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 11, a U-shaped mounting plate 60 is securedinteriorly between the intermediate upstanding angle-iron member 54 andits associated adjacent upstanding rear angle-iron member 24, whichserves to mount an electric timer 61 controlling the drive motor 14 todispense pre-determined portions of ice, as is hereinafter moreparticularly described.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen thatthe upstanding support structure 12 is of bent sheet metal and comprisesa front face portions 62, rearwardly-extending side face portions 63, 64and narrow, opposed, inwardly-extending rear portions 65 and 66. As bestillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 11, the inside of the front face portion62,near the upper end thereof, has welded thereagainst a pair ofhorizontally-extending, symmetrically-opposed top auger tube mountingbrackets 67, 68. An integral auger tube central mounting bracket 69 issimilarly secured against the inside of the front face 62 near the lowerend thereof. The top and center auger tube mounting brackets 67, 68 and69 serve to removably support an auger tube 70 comprising the auger liftassembly 13, as is hereinbelow more particularly described.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, it will be seen that the upper end of theauger tube 70 is cylindrical in shape and has secured therein, as bybolts 71, a shallow bearing support cup 72 carrying a central bearing73. Welded or otherwise secured about the auger tube 70 near the upperend thereofis a top auger tube and bearing support plate 74. As bestillustrated in FIG. 8, the auger tube 70, at a point beginning somewhatbelow the bearing support cup 72, is deformed from circular or tubularcross-sectional configuration to provide diametrically-opposed,vertically-extending, radiallydirected, side wall offset portions 75 and76 extending to the lower end of said auger. The vertical side wallportions 75, 76 merge into offset, opposed, semi-cylindrical wallportions 77 and 78. As illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 11, a bottom augertube bracket 79 is welded or otherwise affixed against the outer wall ofthe auger tube 70 at a distance from the top auger tube and bearingsupport plate 75 equal to the distance between the top auger tubemounting brackets 67, 68 and the center auger tube mounting bracket 79of the upstanding support structure 12. The auger tube 70 has furtheraffixed to the outside thereof near its lower end a wide fin 80-extending arcuately outwardly.

The auger lift assembly 13 further comprises a removable auger 81, whichis preferably formed by twisting an elongated plate of stainless steel.The upper end of the auger 81 has welded thereto at the upper end aconcentrically-arranged,circular top plate 82 projecting centrallyoutwardly whereof is a journal pin 83. The journal pin 83 isdiametrically cross-drilled, as indicated at 84, for the purposehereinafter appearing. The lower end of the auger 81 has concentricallywelded or otherwise affixed thereto a circular auger disc 85 integrallyformed upon the upper surface of which is a pair ofdiametrically-opposed, upstanding, arcuate ribs 86 and 87. The arcuateribs 86, 87 extend spirally from the central zone of the auger disc 85.The auger disc 85 is also formed with an opposed pair of arcuate outerribs 88, 89, said outer ribs being spaced at one end from theirrespective ribs 86 and 87 and extending along paths that are continualof the spiral paths defined by said respective ribs. The related ribs 86and 88, in addition, have associated therewith a spaced continium outerend rib 90, the outer end of which merges with the outer periphery ofthe auger disc 85 (see FIG. 5). As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, theribs 88, 89 and 90 have integrally formed therealong spaced, upstandingprojections or nibs 91.

The over-all diameter of the circular auger disc 85 is slightly lessthan the inner diameter of the inner wall 44 of the cylindrical icechamber 42 near the lower end thereof, to permit removable insertion inplace of the auger lift assembly 13 as is hereinafter more particularlydescribed. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the peripheral marginalportion of the auger disc 85 is turned upwardly slightly as indicated at92. The underside of the auger disc 85 is provided with a central recess93 and a pair of symmetrically-arranged, diametrically-opposed recesses94, 95 for indexing with the diametrically-opposed index lugs 52, 53 ofthe bearing plate 50 upon locating in place the auger lift. assembly 13,as hereinafter described.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, the removable auger is fitted in placewithin the auger tube 70 with its journal pin 83 extending through theupper end bearing 73 whereat it is removably secured in place forrelative rotary motion with respect to said auger tube by means of alock pin 96 inserted through the cross-drilled opening 84. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, when so assembled the lower end of the auger tube70 extends somewhat short of the opposed arcuate ribs 86, 87 to providean entrance zone for the crushed ice to be lifted. As furtherillustrated in FIG. 4, the arcuate fin 80 and a rectangular flatpush-plate 97 extending substantially tangentially from the other sideof the auger tube 70, both extend down slightly beyond the lower end ofsaid auger tube to terminate just short of the nibs 91 of the outer ribs77, 78 and 79, and the opposed arcuate ribs 86, 87, respectively. Asillustrated in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the auger lift assembly 13 is removablyassembled with respect to the ice bin housing 11 by seating the topauger tube and bearing support plate 74 and bottom auger tube bracket79, respectively, on the top pair of auger tube mounting brackets 67,.68, and the auger tube center mounting bracket 69 of the upstandingsupport structure 12, and securing it in place thereat with wing nutbolt assemblies 98.

Means is provided for discharging crushed ice by the auger lift assembly13 through the front of the upstanding support structure 12. To thisend, the upper end of the auger tube 70 is formed with aforwardly-facing,

substantially rectangular opening 99, the lower arcuate edge of which isprovided with a forwardly-extending, somewhat downwardly inclined rampand the sides of which are enclosed by forwardly-extending,opposed,parallel side walls 101, 102. The top of the forwardly-extendingice discharge opening thus defined is enclosed by a forwardly-extending,substantially rectangular portion 103 of the top auger tube and bearingsupport plate 74 (see FIG. 6). The forward end of the ice dischargeopening above described fits in register with a like-sized opening 104in the front face 62 of the upstanding support structure 12 to providefor discharge of ice to the front of the dispenser. The outer verticalsides of the front opening 104 are flanked by outwardly-extending sideenclosure walls 105,106 swingably journalled between which and the upperend portions thereof is a liftable outer end cover plate 107 havingin-turned marginal edge portions 108, 109, receivable in overlyingrelation with respect to outer edge portions of said side enclosurewalls.

Electrical switch means is provided for energizing the electric drivemotor 14 for dispensing ice automatically whenever a glass or othercontainer is moved in position under the dispensing opening 104. To thisend, an arcuate push-plate 110 is arranged at the front of the frontface 62 of the upstanding support structure 12 under the above-describedcover structure of the discharge opening 104, (see FIGS. 4, 7 and 10)said push-plate being supported at the outer end of a U- shapedactuating bar 111, the central portion of which is swingably journalledwith respect to a pair of horizontally-spaced brackets 112, 113 fixedagainst the inside of the front face 62, and the inner end of whichterminates in abutment with the actuating arm 114 of a microswitch 115fixed against the inside face 63 of the upstanding support structure 12.The arrangement is such that when the push-plate 110 is pushed inwardly,such as by use of a glass or other container, the inner end of theU-shaped actuating bar 111 will actuate the microswitch 115. It will beunderstood that the microswitch 115 will be connected in an energizingcircuit for the drive motor 14 to rotate the auger 81 (clockwise asviewed in FIG. 5) through mechanical interconnection with the bearingplate 50, as described above, to elevate the crushed ice within the icechamber 42 for discharge through the front opening 104. The motorenergizing circuitry may also include the electric timer 21 for thepurpose of controlling or predetermining the quantity or portion of iceto be dispensed each time the push-plate 110 is actuated.

The upstanding mechanism support structure 12 further comprises aremovable top cover member 116 having a forwardly-extending, overhangingtop wall 117, and downwardly-extending front, rear, right side and sideflanges 118, 199, 120 and 121, respectively. The top cover member 116also comprises a side-toside back plate 122 extending downwardly of thetop wall 117 at the rear thereof, which serves to cover the rear openingof the support structure 12 when fitted in place. The lower end of theback plate 122 is inwardly offset, as indicated at 123 in FIG. 11, forthe purpose hereinafter appearing; and said back plate is formed alongeach side with opposed, inwardly-directed, parallel flange portions 125,126 (see FIG. 6). As further illustrated in FIG. 6, the flange portions125, 126, when the top over member 116 is fitted into place, fitsslidingly' into place between opposed, parallel, inwardly-directed,vertical flange portions 127, 128, respectively, provided at sideportions of the inwardlyextending rear portions 65, 66 of the upstandingmechanism support structure 12.

As means for removably locking the top cover member in place, the lowerends of the flange portions 124, 125, thereof are provided withupwardly-extending notches 130, 131 adapted to hookingly engage overopposedly-extending pins 128 and 129 fixed at lower end portions of theflange portions 127, 128 (see FIGS. 6, 9 and 11).

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 11, a two part lid is provided for thecylindrical ice chamber 42, comprising a thick-walled, semi-circularfront lid portion 132, insu' lated as indicated at 133, and asemi-circular rear lid portion 134 insulated as at 134. The front lid132, provided with a central opening for passage of the auger tube 70when fitted in place as herein after described, is assembled by fittingat the rear of the open ice chamber 42 and then rotating it to frontposition. The rear lid portion of 134, also provided with a centralopening for passage of the auger tube 70, is thereafter fitted in place.As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 11, the rear lid portion is provided witha transverse, upwardly-extending cover plate 135, the upper end of whichseats in the transverse recess defined by the inwardly off-set portion133 of the back plate 122 comprising the dispensing mechanism supportstructure 12.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 11, the ice bin housing structure11 also comprises a drain housing extending along the front of thedispensing mechanism support structure 12 and at the base thereof,indicated generally at 137, said drain housing comprising upstandingwall 138, side walls 139, 140 and top wall 141. The top wall 141 isformed with an elongated, sidewardly-extending opening removably seatedwithin which is a shallow drain pan 142, having perpheral top flanges143. The drain pan 142 is formed with an inwardly-flanged bottomremovably seated upon which is a perforated drain plate 144.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6, the forward portion 146 of theice bin housing top cover portion 35, at the left-hand side thereof asseen from the front, is equipped with an upper drain fitting 145 joinedwith a flexible drain hose 149 leading to a T-drain fitting 148connected to and communicating also with the bottom of the cylindricalice chamber 42. The remaining outlet of the T-fitting 148 serve as adischarge opening for melted ice flowing from the ice chamber 144 andoverflow ice water spilling into the drain pan 142.

In use, FIG. 11 illustrates how various abovedescribed parts of the icebin housing dispensing mechanism support structure 12, the auger liftassembly 16 and the drain pan 142 can readily be disassembled forcleaning. In operation, after assembly as described above, energizationof the electric drive motor 14 turns the auger 81 and its associatedauger disk 85 in the clock-wise direction, as seen in FIG. 5. Thearcuate ribs 86 through 90 carry the contained "crushed ice into theopposedly-curved, stationary arcuate fin 80 so that the ice iscontinuously pushed centrally to the auger tube 70. Referring to FIG. 4,it will be noted that the lower end of the auger tube 70 extendssomewhat short of the upper surface of the auger disk 85 to provide anentrance for the passage of the ice upwardly through said tube. Theopposed spiral ribs 86, 87 of the auger' disk 85, upon turning of theauger in a clockwise direction as above described, serve to propell theice inwardly for engagement by the auger 81. The relatively fixedpush-plate 97 serves to break up or loosen compacted ice masses, if theyshould occur, at the lower central zone of the ice chamber just prior todelivery to the auger tube 70 for lifting.

In its lifting movement within the auger tube 70, peripheral portions ofthe ice will come into abutting engagement with the opposed, interior,vertically-extending side wall portions 75, 76 of said auger tube, whichpromotes substantially vertical sliding-lifting of most of the ice beingelevated to the discharge ramp, while at the same time minimizing anytendency for the ice to jam, which would otherwise result in nonuniformdispensing.

When using the ice dispenser in association with an ice-making machinedelivering crushed ice through a flexible tube of conduit, the deliveryconduit could extend through appropriate side openings into the interiorof the cylindrical ice chamber 42. A thermallyresponsive switch (notillustrated herein), arranged to sense the temperature of the inner wall44 of the ice chamber 42 at the zone of maximum height to which ice isto be supplied to said chamber, could be used for controlling theoperation of the ice-making machine, thereby rendering the ice dispensersystem fully automatic.

While I have illustrated and described herein a dispensing device forcrushed ice, it is to be understood that it could as well be adapted foruse in dispensing demand portions of other granular, particulate, orfragmented materials. The invention, in brief, comprises all themodifications and embodiments coming within the scope and spirit of thefollowing claims.

What we claim as new desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A crushed ice dispenser comprising, in combination, an ice binhousing, a cylindrical ice bin affixed within said housing, rotativeauger means for lifting ice from the interior of said ice bin fordispensing at a position above said ice bin housing, said auger meanscomprising an elongated auger and an auger tube within which said augeris rotatively journalled, in auger disk concentrically affixed to thelower end of said auger for rotation in unison therewithin, a powerdrive unit, means releasably interconnecting said power drive unit withsaid auger disk and controlled by vertical move,- ment of said auger insaid ice bin for rotating said auger disk and said auger within said icebin, at least a portion of the lower end of said auger tube extendingsomewhat short of the lower end of said auger to provide an entrance tosaid auger tube above said auger disk, and means for moving ice in saidice bin in the direction of said entrance for elevation of ice withinsaid tube by said auger, the upper end of said auger tube having adischarge opening for the dispensing of ice, said releasable means forsaid auger disk comprises a bearing concentrically arranged within thebottom of said ice bin, an axial drive pin journalled in said bearingand extending through said bin, a bearing plate carried by the inner endof said axial pin, and releasable interengagement means between saidbearing plate and the underside of said auger disk.

2. An ice dispenser, as defined in claim 1 wherein said auger disk is ofslightly lesser diameter than the interior diameter of said ice bin.

3. An ice dispenser, as defined in claim 1 wherein said power drive unitcomprises a rotary electric motor secured within said housing anddrivingly interconnected with the outwardly-extending end of the saidaxial drive pin for rotary said drive pin.

4. A ice dispenser as defined in claim 3 including a plurality ofarcuate ribs formed in the upper surface of said auger disk andextending spirally outwardly of a central zone thereof for moving ice insaid ice bin in the direction of the lower end of said auger tube.

5. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 4 including a plurality ofupwardly-extending nibs spaced along and extending upwardly of saidarcuate ribs.

6. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said auger is in theform of a twisted elongated plate, the upper end of said auger beingremovably journalled in the upper end of said auger tube, and means forreleasably securing the upper end of said auger tube with respect tosaid ice bin housing at a position above said ice bin.

7. An ice dispenser as defined'in claim 6 wherein said auger tubesecuring means comprises a dispensing mechanism support structureaffixed to and extending upwardly of said ice bin housing.

8. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 7 including a plurality ofarcuate ribs formed in the upper surface and extending spirallyoutwardly of a central zone of said auger disc for moving ice in saidice bin in the direction of the lower end of said tube, and an arcuatefin secured at one end to said auger tube near the lower end thereof andbeing curved in the opposite direction to the directions of curvature ofsaid arcuate ribs.

9. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 8 including a rectangular pushplate affixed to and extending substantially tangentially outwardly ofsaid auger tube near the lower end thereof in the direction of curvatureof said arcuate fin and arranged substantially diametrically oppositewith respect thereto.

1. A crushed ice dispenser comprising, in combination, an ice binhousing, a cylindrical ice bin affixed within said housing, rotativeauger means for lifting ice from the interior of said ice bin fordispensing at a position above said ice bin housing, said auger meanscomprising an elongated auger and an auger tube within which said augeris rotatively journalled, in auger disk concentrically affixed to thelower end of said auger for rotation in unison therewithin, a powerdrive unit, means releasably interconnecting said power drive unit withsaid auger disk and controlled by vertical movement of said auger insaid ice bin for rotating said auger disk and said auger within said icebin, at least a portion of the lower end of said auger tube extendingsomewhat short of the lower end of said auger to provide an entrance tosaid auger tube above said auger disk, and means for moving ice in saidice bin in the direction of said entrance for elevation of ice withinsaid tube by said auger, the upper end of said auger tube having adischarge opening for the dispensing of ice, said releasable means forsaid auger disk comprises a bearing concentrically arranged within thebottom of said ice bin, an axial drive pin journalled in said bearingand extending through said bin, a bearing plate carried by the inner endof said axial pin, and releasable interengagement means between saidbearing plate and the underside of said auger disk.
 1. A crushed icedispenser comprising, in combination, an ice bin housing, a cylindricalice bin affixed within said housing, rotative auger means for liftingice from the interior of said ice bin for dispensing at a position abovesaid ice bin housing, said auger means comprising an elongated auger andan auger tube within which said auger is rotatively journalled, in augerdisk concentrically affixed to the lower end of said auger for rotationin unison therewithin, a power drive unit, means releasablyinterconnecting said power drive unit with said auger disk andcontrolled by vertical movement of said auger in said ice bin forrotating said auger disk and said auger within said ice bin, at least aportion of the lower end of said auger tube extending somewhat short ofthe lower end of said auger to provide an entrance to said auger tubeabove said auger disk, and means for moving ice in said ice bin in thedirection of said entrance for elevation of ice within said tube by saidauger, the upper end of said auger tube having a discharge opening forthe dispensing of ice, said releasable means for said auger diskcomprises a bearing concentrically arranged within the bottom of saidice bin, an axial drive pin journalled in said bearing and extendingthrough said bin, a bearing plate carried by the inner end of said axialpin, and releasable interengagement means between said bearing plate andthe underside of said auger disk.
 2. An ice dispenser, as defined inclaim 1 wherein said auger disk is of slightly lesser diameter than theinterior diaMeter of said ice bin.
 3. An ice dispenser, as defined inclaim 1 wherein said power drive unit comprises a rotary electric motorsecured within said housing and drivingly interconnected with theoutwardly-extending end of the said axial drive pin for rotary saiddrive pin.
 4. A ice dispenser as defined in claim 3 including aplurality of arcuate ribs formed in the upper surface of said auger diskand extending spirally outwardly of a central zone thereof for movingice in said ice bin in the direction of the lower end of said augertube.
 5. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 4 including a plurality ofupwardly-extending nibs spaced along and extending upwardly of saidarcuate ribs.
 6. An ice dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein saidauger is in the form of a twisted elongated plate, the upper end of saidauger being removably journalled in the upper end of said auger tube,and means for releasably securing the upper end of said auger tube withrespect to said ice bin housing at a position above said ice bin.
 7. Anice dispenser as defined in claim 6 wherein said auger tube securingmeans comprises a dispensing mechanism support structure affixed to andextending upwardly of said ice bin housing.
 8. An ice dispenser asdefined in claim 7 including a plurality of arcuate ribs formed in theupper surface and extending spirally outwardly of a central zone of saidauger disc for moving ice in said ice bin in the direction of the lowerend of said tube, and an arcuate fin secured at one end to said augertube near the lower end thereof and being curved in the oppositedirection to the directions of curvature of said arcuate ribs.